Steel Resolve: Insight for the 31st Century
Steel replaced Iron as a superior metal the world over by the 17th century. For use in weapon-making, it had been adopted by eastern cultures long before that, starting as early as the 8th century. Steel is different from Iron that it incorporates up to 2.1% carbon, nullifying the more brittle aspects of Iron by filling in the voided places in the lattices in the Iron molecular structure.
Its use in blades was also slower to catch on in Europe than in Asia, particularly Japan. The nation of the Katana. However, its use in weapons west of the great wall wasn’t completely unknown. This early steel is often referred to as Damascus Steel, and was prized in particular by the Vikings.
There is often an inherent romanticism associated with swords. While several of the more storied blades actually did exist at some point, it is initially unclear as to why it was so legendary. By looking in the various manufacturing processes of the swords, we begin to perhaps notice a trend.
Starting with the sword of King Arthur. Forged by legends, so obviously destined to be legendary. It was said to contain a spirit of the Lady in White, though she is often also credited as the gifter. The bearer of The Excalibur is said to be invincible in battle. Indeed it was a broken heart that ultimately led to King Arthur’s death. Considering that its origins are shrouded heavy mystery, we could instead look into the facts of the person. It has been shown that a man by the name of Artur did indeed rule the Britons, though it appears he may have been raised under Roman Rule. Evidence shows that Sir Artur possessed a blade gifted to him as part of his training in the Roman legions, so it is likely to have been forged of Damascus steel, while his soldiers and most of his knights/captains would have had blades of Iron. As forging a blade in Damascus Steel took much longer than an ordinary sword of Iron, this may indeed account for the tales of the blade having a “Spirit.”
The Vikings were said to have forged their own blades. It was believed that a Viking was only as good as the blade he carried. In this manner, the “Gift” of Viking Steel was more valuable than the “Prize.” A blade taken from a slain Viking was thought to be as fallible as the man who carried it, while a Gift of a Viking Blade meant that the gifter believed you to be as strong as himself. While not exclusive to swords, many legendary Viking weapons were indeed wielded by undefeated individuals, or at least Vikings that had fallen not by his failure with the sword. Vikings were prone to sing songs in honor of their blades, as if the weapon had a soul to hear it.
Finally you have the weapons of ancient Japan. While it is difficult to pin down exactly when the first blade made of steel was forged, the most notable of these weapons were the Katana. What made these weapons so unique was the manner in which they were created. Long process by highly respected and sought out masters of the craft. It is said that the finest of these weapons were forged of steel folded over a thousand times, purging all impurities from the metal. It should also be noticed that while reproductions are made with modern processes, they still pale in comparison with blades forged in the traditional manner. “A blade struck in haste will also break thusly.” It is widely believed that each of these blades, a work of art in every way, carried a spirit. A Samurai Warrior was known to dedicate his personal honor to the honor of his blade. For several centuries, the ruler of Japan was even passed a blade that was said to be incapable of striking down the unjust.
The similarities seem to be in the process. The more time and energy that is spent in the making of the weapon, the greater that weapon is. The Katana said to be incapable of killing the unjust was forged by the most renowned swordsmith in Japanese History: Murusawa. He was the most well-known maker to use the method of folding the steel over and over again in the heat. A blade would spend up to 30 days being worked in this fashion. The forging was seen to be a spiritual endeavor, and Murusawa would restrict his diet and give offerings between actively striking the blade. Likely this “Traditional” method is by far the most time-consuming by far. The results are impressive, as blades forged hundreds of years ago still retain their edge, their shine, and the distinctive tingle of something as they are held. It is very easy to hold such a blade and feel the spirit.
This sense of being tapped into a greater power is what I wish to discuss. It is the founding principle behind the philosophy I wish to discuss. The Spirit of the Blade. A good Captain is like a fine Blacksmith. The longer he spends in crafting his Blade, or Unit, the better that Blade is. The hard work and attention to the craft imbues the results with its own self-sustaining energy source, or Spirit. Ki, to use the ancient term.
To further illustrate this philosophy, we look at the difference between the armament of the Ninja versus the Samurai. The Ninja were employed by Samurai, but largely viewed as being of lesser worth. Further dividing the two martial powers were the weapons employed. The Ninja, being an Assassin of lowly birth, tended towards weapons that were easily discarded. The Shuriken, the Ninjako, and other weapons cast of iron, or of lower grade steel. No respected Swordsmith would craft weapons for these low-birth killers, so instead common blacksmiths were employed. Indeed, when we look at the condition of ancient Shuriken versus ancient Katana, the shuriken is largely founded a largely unrecognizable rust pile. The Katana, however, was a Dynastic weapon. Often passed down in the family from father to son. The honor of the Blade was sacred.
To use a more contemporary example, one should compare the over-reliance of Meta-Tactics over solid team-building. As it is often said, “Team Work is the True Meta,” and this sentiment is true. Meta-Tactics are often only useful for a short time before needing to adapt or die. To use the example of Ninja weaponry, after a period of time it will either need to be sharpened or discarded. A solidly-trained team on the other hand is like the Katana. The process has made it superior, the results of that process long-lasting. With the crafting, the team builds its Ki up, and taps into a greater power with every drop. Its not to say that a well-formed team can’t make use of Meta-Tactics, but rather the use of any organized tactic is more likely to succeed rather than fail. This allows the team to use exotic plans successfully, which in turn can prove effective to counter “Meta-Tactics.”
This is essentially how I have approached my job during my tenure in the Seraphim Regimental Combat Team, first as Chief Warrant Officer of Alpha Lance, and then as Captain of the 1st Seraphim Guard. I’ve been wary of utilizing the “Meta Tactic of the Week” because I would rather invest in building the 1st Guard as a team. While we enjoy a rather casual attitude in terms of commitment, this solid team building means that the MechWarriors that were in my command didn’t need to be keeping up with the popular flavor of the month. This lack of urgency in turn results in the ability to feel the comradery, the “Spirit of the Blade,” at work. This has tendered a record of more wins than losses. I’ve often seen the unit react like a large living organism, with the separate parts moving and reacting to each other with little to no verbal communication between them.
Instead of asking your command “Have you read the latest?” you ought to try asking instead, “How are you today?” Base your training sessions around increased observation rather than good order-following. Teach your boys and girls to rely upon those standing beside them in the trenches, rather than keeping up with folks they’ll likely never even speak to.
Food for thought.
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